Cyprus Building Permits Now Online Only

Starting July 1, 2024, All Building Permit Applications in Cyprus Must Be Submitted via the Hippodamus Portal

The Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Cyprus has announced a new regulation stating that from July 1, 2024, all building permit applications must be processed exclusively online. The Ministry has introduced the Hippodamus portal, a platform designed for applicants to complete their applications, submit necessary documentation, and pay the required registration fees.

Hippodamus – an eminent ancient Greek architect and urban planner, philosopher, and engineer from Miletus, renowned for his grid-based city layouts, famously known as the "Hippodamian System".

This new online portal is a crucial step in the digital transformation of public services and the restructuring of local administrative processes. Responsibility for evaluating building permit applications has shifted from local municipalities to five newly established regional development agencies in Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca, Paphos, and the free areas of Famagusta. The Ministry of Interior believes that the new portal will streamline and expedite the construction licensing process.

On the morning of July 1, 2024, the Hippodamus portal experienced a 403 error – "access to the requested page is denied or the user lacks the necessary permissions to view the content". However, by 8:30 AM, access to the portal was successfully restored.